Shell Voicings for Bass

- Chris Fitzgerald

Two note "shell Voicings" of two different types. Voicings which span the 4th string to the 1st string
contain the root and 10th of the harmony, and will be referred to as "Type I" voicings here. Voicings which
span the 3rd string to the 1st string contain the root and 7th of the harmony, and are called "Type II"
voicings here.

C^ or C7 (root and major 1oth) C- (root and minor 10th)

w bw
? w w
Type I Type I

F^ (root and major 7th) F7 or F- (root and minor 7th)

nw bw
? w w
Type II Type II

ii-V7-I progression starting with a Type I voicing. In 4th based root motion, switching from one type to the
other will always produce the smoothest voice leading.

b C-w b F7w w
B^
? w w bw
I II I

II-V7-I progression starting with a Type II voicing. The range for this voicing set is a bit low, making the
Type I progression a likely better choice for this key.

C- F7 B^
? w
b
w
w w
w bw
II I II